Sunday morning dawned, and it took Hermione a moment to remember why her mood was tinged with worry. She spent the rest of the day trying to put a finger on exactly what was causing her suspicion.

Harry and Ron weren't very helpful when she tried to bring up the interaction with Crouch again — they considered the matter dealt with and were taking Crouch's advice for Harry to focus on the third task. While she agreed that it was important for Harry to be prepared for the tournament, something about the situation with Crouch and Moody seemed more pressing.

In Monday afternoon's Arithmancy lesson, Hermione decided to ask Malfoy and Theo if they would meet her in the library late that evening. Maybe an outside perspective could help piece things together.

Theo smiled and assured her they would be there. Malfoy seemed somewhat reluctant about a planned encounter instead of meeting by happenstance as per usual, but she implored him that it was important. Searching her eyes once, he gave a terse nod in agreement.

Hermione went up after dinner to wait at the corner table she occasionally shared with Malfoy at the back of the library, pulling out her Herbology notes to complete a half-finished diagram of the Flitterbloom plant. At nearly half past eight o'clock, Malfoy and Theo came around the last row of books to join her at the table.

Hermione caught Theo up to speed on the beginning of the whole matter with Crouch and the Marauder's Map, then relayed the tale of her adventure with Harry and Ron on Saturday night.

"It just doesn't make sense, does it?" she asked them when she had finished. "Crouch needing to disguise as Moody for an investigation like this? Crouch practically living undercover here in the castle while everyone thinks he's ill?"

Theo sat with his chin in his hand, lips pursed in thought. Malfoy leaned back in his chair, arms folded across his chest and a seemingly forgotten quill tucked behind one ear. He gazed at her, tapping his fingertips on his upper arms while he ruminated.

Finally, Theo spoke.

"That's a lot of rule-breaking, Granger," he said with a wink. He seemed to have regained most of his old charm with the Easter holidays over a month behind them.

Hermione made a face at him. "So I have been informed," she said dryly, casting an accusatory look at Malfoy. Malfoy smirked in response.

"What do Potter and Weasley think?" Theo asked, serious now.

"They don't see anything strange about it," Hermione answered truthfully. "Ron's brother Percy works for Mr. Crouch, and from what we know about Crouch from during Voldemort's" —Theo flinched and Malfoy's front chair legs hit the ground— "sorry, I mean You-Know-Who's rise to power, he can be a bit obsessive about catching Dark wizards and Death Eaters."

Malfoy and Theo traded indecipherable glances.

"If you're worried, Granger, why don't you just go talk to Dumbledore?" Malfoy advised, still frowning slightly.

"Well… I thought about that," Hermione admitted. "But Crouch insisted that Dumbledore would be quite angry to discover we knew anything about it. I don't want to cause unnecessary trouble for myself, Harry, and Ron. Last year, when I thought Harry had received a cursed broomstick, I informed McGonagall and they were upset with me for weeks," Hermione finished meekly, tucking her bottom lip between her teeth.

Malfoy scoffed and Theo frowned.

"Well, it is a curse to let Potter have a Firebolt," Malfoy sneered.

Theo watched Malfoy with amusement, and Hermione didn't quite manage to repress a smile.

Malfoy glared at the pair of them. "Only reason they won the Cup last year, you know," he added petulantly.

"Quidditch aside," Theo began, casting another amused glance at Malfoy, "it does seem a bit extreme and all, but if this Crouch is what you say, maybe not entirely out of character for him."

Hermione opened her mouth.

"I'm not dismissing your concerns," Theo forestalled her, correctly interpreting the expression on her face, "it just doesn't seem entirely implausible that a crazy ex-Auror and his ex-Head of Magical Law Enforcement would come up with some ridiculous scheme under the delusion that there's another evil plot at Hogwarts."

Hermione nodded thoughtfully.

"You said Crouch pretended to be Moody until Potter admitted the stuff about the Map, though?" Malfoy asked suddenly. "And he acted like he and Potter had talked before?"

"Yes," Hermione confirmed. "Said that Harry ought to have remembered he could see through invisibility cloaks. The only time Harry ran into Moody while under the Cloak before was when he had just figured out the clue for the second task and was coming back to the dormitory after curfew. Harry said that Moody made him come back to his office to talk a while, and gave him a book to take to Neville—"

"But wouldn't Potter have run into the real Moody still in his office?" Malfoy broke in. "And how would Crouch know anything about Longbottom?"

"That's… I'm not sure," Hermione said, frowning. She hadn't thought of that before. "I suppose that time could have been Moody, and he could have shared it with Crouch for some reason…"

Malfoy shrugged in answer. Theo just looked contemplative.

She sighed wistfully. "If only we could talk to Crouch and Moody at the same time. I wish Harry hadn't given Crouch the map…"

Malfoy bolted up straight in his chair.

"Potter handed that map over to Crouch?" he said quickly.

Hermione nodded.

Malfoy grimaced. "Well if there is something strange going on, Potter's just lost you the most useful thing of all. Figures," he scoffed.

"Well, he didn't have much of a choice," Hermione said weakly, offering a half-hearted defence for her friend. She hadn't wanted to hand it over either.

Theo suddenly glanced out the nearest window. "Draco, we should get going," he said. "You too, Granger. You've got enough to think about without detention for being out after hours again. Honestly, I'm surprised Pince hasn't come over here to shoo us out yet." Theo looked around curiously. "Though I suppose this corner is kind of hidden," he finished, glancing pointedly at Malfoy, who ignored him.

Hermione yawned before she could stop herself.

"That's probably for the best," she said, covering her mouth with a hand.

She packed her essay into her bag and reached to switch off the table lamp, leaving them all shrouded in near-complete darkness. Moonlight filtered through a small window above the table, its soft glow barely allowing her to make out Malfoy's and Theo's faces.

Tucked into the back corner of the library and behind the last tall row of books, the table was quite secluded. Which incidentally made it perfect for an occasional connection with a certain Slytherin that she otherwise had no great excuse to be meeting.

Hermione thanked Malfoy and Theo again as they all moved towards the library exit. It was useful to have a different perspective, even if she still wasn't quite sure what to make of everything. She felt better, too, for having her concerns validated. Malfoy in particular had given her a lot to think over.

They paused in the corridor outside the library, about to part ways for their separate dormitories.

"We'll catch up later, Granger?" Theo asked with a friendly smile.

"Of course," she said, returning his smile. She then met Malfoy's eyes, polished silver this evening. "Good night."

"Night," Theo repeated, while Malfoy simply nodded. Inexplicably hesitant to be the first to break eye contact, Hermione stood locked with Malfoy in a sort of staring match until Theo grabbed his arm, smirking, and turned him towards the stair for the dungeons.

She gave herself a mental shake, wondering how tired she must be if she was zoning out in the middle of a corridor, and started in the other direction for Gryffindor Tower.

During lunch before their next Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson, Colin Creevey came bounding over to hand a slip of parchment to Harry, his new camera bouncing on his chest from a strap around his neck. Harry thanked him and looked over the note, eyebrows raising, before handing it to Hermione so that she and Ron could read it.

Hermione's heart sank. Professor Moody wanted to speak to her, Harry, and Ron before the next lesson. They were to go to his office fifteen minutes prior to the beginning of class.

"D'you reckon we're in trouble?" Ron asked, looking nervous.

"I dunno, maybe," Harry said, scrunching his nose in displeasure. "Maybe Moody didn't take it as well as Crouch thought he would."

Hermione's apprehension only grew as they left the Great Hall and drew closer to Moody's office. Harry and Ron seemed most worried about being in trouble. Hermione worried that something much worse could be waiting for them.

At least they would all be there together; Moody (and Crouch, if he was there) would be outnumbered. She was suddenly very glad that she had decided to let Malfoy and Theo in on the secret, too.

Harry knocked firmly on the door to Moody's office and slowly pushed it open. Hermione breathed a small sigh of relief; Moody was the only one present, sitting behind his desk. Crouch was nowhere to be seen. Or… were they looking at Crouch under Polyjuice? She dug her fingernails into her arm, perhaps feeling a bit peaky after all.

"Professor Moody…?" Harry began tentatively.

"Yes, come in Potter, Weasley, Granger," Moody said gruffly, without looking up. It sounded like the Professor she knew.

Hermione filed into the room behind Harry and Ron. A number of odd-looking instruments filled the room around her, which did not help to put her at ease. A large mirror hung on the opposite wall, brimming with shadowy figures. One of the figures in the forefront seemed slightly more resolved, but its features were too blurred to make out.

Moody began filing some papers to the side of his desk, and gestured one-handedly for them to be seated. Hermione perched nervously on the edge of her chair between Harry and Ron. Moody finally looked up at them, his magical eye whizzing sickeningly in its socket.

"So," he began, looking grim. "You three have uncovered the investigation." He fixed them each with an eerie stare. "You don't look surprised that I know. I expect Crouch informed you that he would have to debrief me due to his need for concealment as he conducts inspections. Have you spoken with the Headmaster about it?"

"No," Harry jumped in quickly. "Mr. Crouch said that Professor Dumbledore would be quite angry, and as a favour to us for letting him borrow the Map, he said that he wouldn't mention our knowledge about anything."

Moody grunted. "Crouch's right about that," he said. "Dumbledore would be very displeased if this got out. Especially with how close we are to uncovering what we believe to be a highly intricate and long-running scheme, possibly involving a few less than trustworthy suspects at Hogwarts. Crouch showed me your Map, Potter. I could only wish we had it months ago."

"Er…sorry," Harry said. "Sir, when you say there are untrustworthy people…"

Moody barked a laugh. "Always curious, Potter, aren't you. You and your friends..."

His gaze swept over Hermione and she hurriedly smoothed her worried expression.

"Now, strictly-speaking, I shouldn't tell you this, but you'll likely figure it out anyway. There are confirmed former Death Eaters at Hogwarts. Maybe even current Death Eaters. But the only way we get to the bottom of this is if they don't see it coming. And if there's one thing I hate, it's a Death Eater who walked free." Moody barked another harsh laugh.

Harry and Ron hurriedly nodded their understanding. Hermione sat still in shock.

Moody continued speaking. "I want your word that you three will stay out of this from here on out. Don't even bring it up between yourselves. All you need to know is that it's in good hands. If you keep your heads down and mouths shut, everything will turn out as it should."

Harry and Ron, wide-eyed, quickly murmured assent. Hermione bit her lip, wondering what would happen if she did not agree. Moody was watching her closely.

"Alright," she said finally.

Moody's gaze lingered on her a moment longer before he gave a terse nod, one that looked more to himself than to her agreement. He gave them leave to go and get ready for class.

Hermione exhaled a sigh of relief as soon as she was out of Moody's office. She wasn't sure what she had expected, but certainly something a lot worse than a talking to. She took her usual seat near the front of the class and readied her materials. Lessons with Moody were usually practical ones, but she had out a roll of parchment and a quill just in case.

Per usual, the lesson would be practical, and they wouldn't even need their wands. Moody stumped out of his office, surveyed the class, and nodded as if he had come to a decision. He growled that they were to practise resisting the Imperius Curse again, which would likely be coming up on their exams, and that he should know, since he was the one setting them.

Hermione groaned inwardly. Others in the class groaned out loud. Most of them had been driven to perform embarrassing tasks last time, and despite an unspoken agreement to keep certain affairs in the classroom, things had a way of getting out.

It went as badly as before, with everyone in the class being coerced into performing uncomfortable or astonishing tasks except Harry, who was able to throw off the curse entirely on his first attempt. Moody bared his teeth at Harry, telling him once again he should consider a career as an Auror. Harry beamed with pride. Hermione lamented internally about having to go last after Harry, though, knowing that she most certainly couldn't top his performance.

As predicted, once the floating sensation took over and her worries were wiped gently away, she could think of nothing else except hopping around the room on one foot, which Moody kept her at for five whole minutes.

Maybe it was retribution for her hesitation in his office. At least her task was not the most embarrassing by far.

She performed even more poorly than last time, and shuddered at the thought of having to do this again on the final. It seemed like Moody had increased the strength of the Curse, too, as the lingering effects were worsened. Hermione stumbled about afterwards, randomly trying to hop on one foot again mid-stride. As with Ron's skipping incident the last time they did this, Moody assured her the effects would wear off by dinner.

With the lesson over and no further talks with Moody or Crouch to worry about, Hermione was feeling better about things than she had in a while. Even Malfoy's raised eyebrow and Theo's badly-repressed sniggering after she stumbled into Arithmancy and explained what had happened didn't dampen her good spirits.

Hermione focused on the lesson, furiously taking notes as usual, and was able to walk normally to dinner afterwards. She sat at Gryffindor table and loaded her plate with all of her favourites, waiting for Harry and Ron to appear from Divination.

Ron came in a few minutes after herself, sitting across the table and looking unnerved.

"Where's Harry?" she asked lightly.

"He… had some sort of episode in the middle of class," he said. "Gone to the hospital wing, I think."

"Oh?" was all Hermione could think to say.

"Yeah, it was scary. One minute we were sitting there like normal listening to Trelawney drone on about planets, and the next, Harry sort of fell over and started shaking, holding his head and yelling."

"Oh my," Hermione replied, loading more mashed potatoes onto her plate. Ron gave her an odd look.

"Yeah, hope he's alright," Ron said finally. "I'd like to think it was just a headache like he told Trelawney, but I'm positive he was clutching his scar."

"Maybe so. I guess we'll have to ask him," she said between bites, shrugging.

Hermione decided she wanted to work on her knitting again after dinner, so she set up in an armchair near the fireplace with her knitting needles and The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4 open on her lap. Ron sat on the sofa next to her, pulling out his unfinished homework. Harry still hadn't returned from wherever he had gone after Divination.

"Haven't you already read through that book at least three times?" Ron said, glancing pointedly at the textbook in her lap.

"And?" she replied mildly. Ron just grumbled under his breath, words too low to make out.

Hermione didn't let it bother her; Ron hardly understood opening his textbooks in the first place, let alone the value of knowing them front to back. She relaxed further into her chair, basking in the familiarity of the common room and her reading material.

Harry came back before curfew and looked around hastily before sitting next to Ron. Everyone else in the common room was busy either completing their own homework or talking with friends. A low hum of chatter filled the space, but Harry still kept his voice low as he filled them in on his evening.

He had gone straight to Dumbledore's office after falling asleep and having a dream in Divination class, one that caused his scar to burn. Voldemort had been punishing Wormtail for something. Something about a blunder that had the potential to ruin everything, and Wormtail needed to right it immediately, or he would be fed to a snake.

Harry had arrived at Dumbledore's office only to find that Dumbledore wasn't in, but he decided to wait. Hermione wasn't surprised to hear that Harry's curiosity had gotten the best of him once again, and Harry had found and entered Dumbledore's unguarded Pensieve. Hermione already knew about Pensieves, but Ron required a brief explanation.

Afterwards, Harry detailed the three different Wizengamot trials he had witnessed inside. The first showed Igor Karkaroff being tried as a Death Eater, giving up names of other Death Eaters to get himself out of Azkaban prison. Karkaroff had named Snape as one of the other Death Eaters, but Dumbledore, quite predictably, vouched for him.

The second was of Ludo Bagman's trial for acting as an unknowing accomplice to Death Eater activities, but he was let off without so much as a warning.

In the third, Harry watched as Mr. Crouch sent his own son to Azkaban, where he would later die, wasting away under the presence of the dementors. Harry never said what the boy and his companions were being charged with, but it seemed unrelated. Dumbledore returned while Harry was in the last memory and took Harry back to his office.

"So, what did Dumbledore say about your scar hurting? And the dream?" Ron asked when Harry had finished.

"Well, he already knew about my scar hurting over the summer from Sirius," Harry answered. "But he thinks that my scar hurts both when Voldemort is nearby and when he is feeling particularly angry. That we're somehow connected by the curse and my scar." He grimaced. "He also said that the dream was probably real," Harry said, his frown deepening. Ron looked downright alarmed.

"But… but wouldn't that have to mean that You-Know-Who is back?" Ron said, his hands clutching the sofa cushion so hard that his knuckles blanched.

Harry shook his head. "I don't think he's… back… exactly. But probably getting stronger."

"Yes, that sounds about right," Hermione put in. "I did warn you it would be soon."

"It's not exactly something I like to think about, Hermione," Ron said testily.

Harry eyed them both sideways. Hermione decided to excuse herself and go to bed. The direction this conversation was taking certainly wouldn't be productive to her mood. She bade the boys a good night and retreated to her dormitory.

Ron watched her progress to the stairs through narrowed eyes. Harry simply looked confused.

Ron wasn't the only one in a tetchy mood that night. Hermione thought she would favour Crookshanks with a thorough brushing before bed (she tried to do that at least once a week to keep his long, ginger fur free of knots), but he refused to come over. He was probably too busy keeping an eye out for stray mice.

Shrugging, Hermione got up to fill his bowl, then sank back unconcernedly into bed. Apart from being home, there was nothing quite like the familiar warmth of her four-poster. She drifted to sleep easily, her dreams pleasantly empty for once.

Harry and Ron spent free periods and mealtimes the rest of the week practising hexes in the empty Transfiguration classroom to prepare Harry for the third task. Hermione didn't feel much like practising as of late, deciding instead to spend her free time either on her knitting or in the solace of the library.

On one such evening in the library, a week after Harry's scar incident, Malfoy and Theo found her at the back corner table again.

"Granger, I swear I didn't know he was talking to her," Malfoy said immediately.

Hermione merely looked at him, nonplussed.

"You don't believe me?" Malfoy said tightly. Theo frowned.

Hermione looked between them, not understanding in the least.

"What are you talking about?" she finally asked.

Malfoy and Theo exchanged glances, and Theo held out his hand containing a furled up copy of the morning's Daily Prophet. She took it from him as he and Malfoy took seats at the table. Malfoy sat rigidly, his eyes icy grey as he studied her. Hermione unrolled the paper and looked down.

A large picture of Harry took up most of the front page beneath a banner headline.

"HARRY POTTER"

"DELIRIOUS AND DISTURBED OR DARK AND DANGEROUS?"

Hermione scanned Rita Skeeter's latest article quickly. Somehow, Rita had witnessed Harry's collapse in Divination. Rita purported that after talking to specialists at St. Mungo's, Harry's brain had very likely been addled by the damage incurred from You-Know-Who's curse. Or, Harry was simply pretending, desperate for a little more attention. Or, most ridiculously of all, Harry was concealing dark, hitherto unknown powers.

She found the part that Malfoy was worried about. Rita had somehow interviewed Crabbe, who revealed that Harry was a Parselmouth, just like You-Know-Who. Crabbe also recounted the duelling club incident during second year, in which Harry spoke to a snake going after Justin Finch-Fletchley, making it seem that Harry was setting the snake on him and attacking other students. That Harry would do anything for a bit of power. That Harry had a violent streak because he was friends with werewolves and part-giants.

Hermione shrugged and rolled the paper back up.

"Rita Skeeter's articles are always a load of rubbish," she said easily. "This one is no different. I expect Harry feels the same."

Malfoy watched her carefully, saying nothing.

"Okay, here's something else for you, Granger," Theo said, nudging Malfoy's arm. "Tell her the other bit, Draco."

"Yeah… well, as soon as I saw it, I tracked down Crabbe," Malfoy began. "I convinced him pretty easily to tell me how he was meeting with Skeeter. She's an Animagus. An unregistered one."

"Oh, of course," Hermione said, a delicate laugh falling from her lips as she nodded to herself. "That makes sense now."

She returned to the book currently open on the table in front of her, a clear dismissal.

Malfoy's mouth dropped open.

"Weren't you bent on discovering her secret?" he asked in disbelief. "Going to make her regret it and all?"

"Yes, well, it just seems rather unimportant now. We've got a lot going on…"

"Speaking of—" Theo interrupted, "—did you find out anything new about that scheme Crouch and Moody are running?"

Hermione brightened. "Yes, Professor Moody called us into his office to explain further."

She smiled easily at the pair of them, but they only watched her, clearly waiting for something else.

"That's it?" Malfoy asked incredulously when she didn't elaborate.

Then she frowned slightly, a hint of doubt creeping in. "It really does sound like everything is handled, and they both had decent explanations, but…"

She paused. It didn't feel right to discuss this anymore. She didn't want to hinder the investigation. She had already caused enough trouble as it was.

"But?" Theo repeated, eyebrows raised.

"I… don't think we should talk about this right now," Hermione said, absently toying with a strand of hair.

"What do you mean?" Malfoy asked in puzzlement, looking around to see if anyone was within earshot.

Hermione thought about how to explain. Looking at Malfoy as she thought, she studied the curve of his lips as they parted slightly in confusion. She distractedly watched the way a fringe of blonde hair fell over his forehead on one side, and how his jaw tightened as he looked back at her, lips pressed together now, waiting for an answer. He really was quite pretty when he wasn't sneering. Yes, quite fit.

"Are you still worried about it?" Theo asked gently when she didn't reply.

Hermione dropped the strand of hair she had been fiddling with and focused on Theo, whose dark eyes seemed to be piercing her very soul.

"I really would prefer not to discuss it any longer," Hermione said decidedly, turning back to her book.

"Are you serious, Granger?" Malfoy began. She looked back up into his cool grey eyes, a stark contrast to his heated tone. "You're the one who—"

He cut off as Theo laid a hand on his arm, brows knit together as he looked her over. Hermione returned to her book, but thought she saw Theo lean over to whisper something in Malfoy's ear out of the corner of her eye. In her peripheral vision, Malfoy nodded slowly.

"Unfortunately, we've got to get going, so we'll leave you to it, Granger," Theo said kindly.

She looked up again briefly to offer him a bland smile. Theo returned it, making his goodbyes, but Malfoy remained silent, peering at her intently. What was going on with him? She dismissed it as likely nothing — she still had yet to understand even the smallest things he did.

Hermione eventually packed up her things and returned to the common room. From across the room, she spotted Harry and Ron in the corner, bent over a copy of the very same newspaper that Theo had just shown her. She really wasn't in the mood to rehash that.

Hermione crossed the room casually for the stairs to her dormitory, hoping they didn't notice her. As soon as she made the first few stairs, she breathed a tiny sigh of relief, then paused. It felt like there was something she had meant to tell Harry about that article, but she couldn't put her finger on it. No matter — if it was important, she would remember it later. She continued up the stairs, pausing to fill the food bowls for an absent Crookshanks and went straight to sleep.

Hermione didn't see much of Harry and Ron over the next few days either. They were still busily practising charms, hexes, and other useful spells to prepare Harry for the third task. Ron and Harry gave up trying to convince her to join them when Hermione insisted for the hundredth time that she'd rather spend her time in the library.

It was relaxing to be in the library, almost as if she could flip off a switch and suppress long-forgotten worries, and she had been spending a lot more time there of late. So much so that the nights began to blur together. In fact, the last time she went, the only thing she could recall doing was sitting at the table and looking out the window as the sun descended below the distant mountain range until it was pitch black outside. Only a sudden desire to go straight to bed brought her out of her reverie and back to Gryffindor Tower.

Malfoy and Theo were both acting increasingly odd as well. During every Arithmancy period, they kept pestering her with questions about subjects that had already been thoroughly discussed.

"Hey, Granger," Malfoy said, watching her closely. "Did you ever think any more on that room I found on the seventh floor?"

"Not really," she replied, returning to her chart.

"Granger," Theo began lightly a few minutes later. "We're thinking of skiving off studying for exams this weekend to have a fly around the grounds. Supposed to be nice out, and Draco mentioned you were in desperate need of a proper flying lesson. Care to join?" Theo said the last bit while simultaneously throwing a smirk at Malfoy. Malfoy glowered at him.

"Perhaps," she answered indifferently, smiling.

Malfoy recovered himself and opened his mouth quickly. "Did you ever get the Map back from Crouch?"

Hermione glared at him. "I never should have mentioned that. Although… no, we didn't. Moody said it would be really useful for the investigation, as there might be Death Eaters around" —Malfoy's eyes widened— "and we shouldn't tell Dumbledore we know. I'm worried that something isn't right… but everything is under control. Yes. Although, how Crouch could have known… but it all makes complete sense, and I've already caused enough trouble. I really would prefer not to discuss it any longer."

Malfoy watched her warily, forehead creased in concern. Why should that concern him?

Theo hurriedly changed the subject. "Granger, have you ever asked Draco about how many house elves his family owns?" he asked innocently.

Malfoy shot Theo an exasperated look. She laughed, previous worries forgotten.

On Saturday morning, two weeks before the third task was set to take place, Hermione woke up to find herself already dressed and sitting in the library. Sunlight streamed through the small window above the table, and a pleasant warmth surrounded her. The library appeared empty, the only sound evident her own steady breathing. A narrow beam of light fell across the floor in front of her, and tiny dust motes glittered softly where they caught the light. She was content.

Something tickled her ankles, and Hermione thought she heard faint mewling. She looked down, but only saw a few ginger hairs stuck to her bag. Maybe Crookshanks was off chasing a spider. She looked up at the tall shelf filled with dusty tomes next to her, and Malfoy was talking.

What? Where had he come from?

"—got to look at me, Granger." He muttered a curse.

She blinked and focused on him. The yellow sunset filtering in behind Malfoy gave him a hazy outline and an almost angelic sort of glow with his golden hair reflecting the light. When had he become beautiful?

He half-smirked at her before his mouth fell back into a frown. He held her eyes, searching for something. She blinked again and Theo was there, too.

"—telling you, something's not right," Malfoy said to a vigorously nodding Theo. Crookshanks was back, sitting on the table with his great yellow eyes fixed on her.

"Granger, where are Potter and Weasley?" Theo asked quickly.

"Harry and Ron?" she repeated. "I don't know." Hermione shook her head.

Malfoy gave Theo a significant look. She rubbed her eyes, trying to clear her disorientation, and she was standing in the deserted Entrance Hall. She started back in shock, looking around wildly.

"I've got you, Granger." Malfoy's voice. "We're going to the hospital wing, okay? Need to check on something there. You agreed to help me." He was standing next to her, hands raised to gesture down the hall.

Hermione nodded slowly. "Okay." She looked towards the front doors where darkness had almost completely fallen. Her stomach rumbled loudly. "What time is it?"

"It's half past nine."

"Where's Theo?"

"I'm right here," Theo's voice said from behind her, causing another shock. She blinked and Theo was gone, replaced by Viktor. Malfoy was scowling at him for some reason.

"—just not a good time," Malfoy said curtly. "I've got to get—"

Viktor cut him off.

"I am telling you, this is an emergency. Her-my-knee, vhere is your Headmaster's office? Can you take me there?"

"What's going on?" she asked, noting the concern on his face.

"I've just found that man, vith your Ministry, near the forest. Crouch, I think his name vas. He looks very ill, something is not right. Collapsed outside. Most of his vords are nonsense but then he insists upon seeing your Headmaster right avay."

Her rising panic made it easier to focus. "We've got to go to him," she said. "To get help. I think it must be important."

Malfoy opened his mouth. "Granger, I don't think—" Just then Theo came running back.

"They're not in the Transfiguration classroom," Theo panted to Malfoy.

"Okay," Malfoy growled. "Theo, we've got another problem. Can you take Krum up to Dumbledore's office? Apparently Crouch—" he cut off again as Ron rounded the corner from the nearest corridor. Malfoy made a small noise of frustration in the back of his throat.

"Hermione!" Ron said, walking quickly towards her. "Been looking all over for you today. What's going on?" He looked over her, Malfoy, Theo, and Krum, confusion evident on his face.

"Weasley, of course you're here now that I've gone looking," Theo said irritably. "We need to take Granger to the hospital wing."

Viktor looked back and forth between all of them in turns.

"What? Why?" Ron asked in alarm, looking her up and down. Theo said something else, but as Hermione's initial panic ebbed, she started to lose her concentration again.

Suddenly, she thought of something that pulled the world back into focus.

"Ron, where's Harry?" she asked. Ron cut off from whatever he had been saying to Theo and turned to her.

"He got another message from Moody," Ron explained. "Said Crouch had urgent information for him and the other champions about the tournament or something."

Ron looked at Viktor again, then gave a small start at realising one of the champions was standing right in front of him.

The panic that had been dulled returned in full force. "He couldn't have done, Viktor just said… Something's not right," she whispered. Everyone watched her with concern. "Where was Harry meeting Moody?"

"I dunno," Ron said.

"We have to… have to… Oh. It's probably fine. Everything is under control," Hermione finished, smiling brightly.

"Hermione, what's wrong?" Ron asked, half raising a hand towards her. She stepped back.

"Why do you think something's wrong?" she said sharply.

Hermione blinked and Malfoy was talking again.

"—what Krum just said about Crouch. Theo, you take Krum to find Dumbledore. I need to talk to Granger, I've just realised something about Moody. Weasley, get your arse up to Moody's office and see if you can find that bloody Map. That's the only way you'll be able to find Potter now."

Ron's mouth dropped open. "How do you—"

"No time to explain," Malfoy interrupted harshly. "Just go—"

"Sod off, Malfoy. I'm not about to leave you here with Hermione while she's in a state like this—"

"Ron," Hermione said quietly, fighting to concentrate. "Please hurry."

Ron took one look at her face and turned on his heel to sprint towards Moody's office. Theo gestured hurriedly for Viktor to follow him towards Dumbledore's office. Suddenly, it was just her and Malfoy.

"Granger, we need to talk. Somewhere private. Will you allow me to help you?"

She nodded mutely.

Malfoy wrapped a long-fingered hand around her wrist and began gently tugging her towards the closed doors to the Great Hall. He pulled out his wand with the other hand.

"Alohomora."

The doors clicked open. Malfoy pushed one inward, drawing her inside after him. He cast Lumos next, as the enchanted starry sky above provided only the faintest light. The House tables were spotless, dinner having been cleared away some time ago. They sat facing each other on benches between the two tables nearest the doors, close enough for their knees to brush.

"Still with me, Granger?" Malfoy asked.

"I think so."

"Good," he nodded, watching her eyes. She wondered what he saw. "I need you to listen closely. I believe you are currently under the Imperius Curse."

Hermione reeled. The Imperius Curse? That would explain… what would it explain?

She felt as if she were trying to collect her thoughts with a sieve, and they were running out faster than she could form them. All she really wanted to think about was going to bed. It was getting late. This conversation didn't promise to be productive for her good mood.

"Mmm," she finally mumbled, watching Malfoy's brow furrow.

"We're going to break it, okay?"

"That's fine, Malfoy," she sighed. "I think I'll go to bed now, if that's alright with you."

"Granger, focus." He reached out to place a hand on her knee. That seemed to help, somehow. "Whatever is going on, it looks like Potter is in some sort of trouble again."

"Harry's in trouble?" Another surge of panic. Her mind began pushing against some unknown force. It resisted.

"I think so. Moody obviously knew you were too suspicious about his and Crouch's plan, and must have kept you under the curse after your class reviewed it in Defence Against the Dark Arts," Malfoy said, jaw now tightly clenched with something like fury. "Our class never reviewed resisting that spell again, yeah? It was just yours."

"Just mine," she repeated more firmly.

"Yes. And you need to fight it. I know you can." Malfoy peered into her eyes, beseeching her to comply. His eyes were the colour of steel, now.

Hermione bit her lip, battling an inner voice she hadn't realised was there.

It's getting late. Go to bed…

Her own voice answered. Why? I need to help Harry.

Everything is under control—

It isn't. Moody was lying. Crouch was lying.

You don't want to discuss this with anyone.

I have to, something isn't right.

No need to worry about anything.

Maybe not, but—

You've already caused enough trouble.

I didn't mean to…

Malfoy seemed able to watch the inner dialogue happening through her eyes. He also seemed to realise she was losing ground, for he then said something quite odd.

"The method is practically archaic," he hissed, tapping his fingers on the bench. "But if it might work… Don't smack me, Granger," Malfoy warned, and he leaned forward, closing the space between them to slant his mouth over her own.

Hermione gasped against his lips, a flood of emotions crashing back into her. Worry, pain, and urgency replaced the empty, echoing feeling inside of her head. Mixed in was the scent of Malfoy, surprisingly soft and warm. The electric jolt to her middle was part reality crashing in, part something else entirely.

His lips parted slightly and the warmth of his exhale washed over her, dulling the tempest of competing sensations to a muted buzz as a growing heat took over. He gave a small, almost inaudible sigh, his lips softening and moulding to her own.

As with everything, Hermione had prepared for the eventuality of being kissed in her life. She'd watched romantic comedies with her mum on the telly, she'd read the occasional fictional story involving romantic endeavours (and maybe one tawdry romance novel, not that she'd ever admit to it), and she'd worked up the courage to actually kiss Viktor Krum only weeks ago. Hermione felt that she had been thoroughly educated on the subject of kissing, and that was that.

What Hermione was not prepared for was her response this time.

All it took was that one little sigh from Malfoy to send her body flying ahead of her brain. Very much of their own accord, her hands flew up from her sides to grasp the soft, pale strands at the nape of his neck. She pushed against him, deepening the kiss, and his sigh changed into a low-throated groan, spurring on the heat steadily rising in her middle. Her lips were moving in tandem with his and he brought his hands up to tangle roughly in her curls, pulling her even more tightly against him.

Her breathing came raggedly now, and Hermione let out a tiny whimper when his teeth came down gently on her bottom lip. She returned the gesture, eliciting another groan from Malfoy that shot straight to her core. Hermione's hands were just considering their next move when suddenly, the pressure of Malfoy's lips on hers was gone, leaving her feeling curiously cold.

Hermione let her hands fall to her sides and opened her eyes.

Malfoy had his head bowed. He drew an unsteady breath — sending another wave of warmth through her — though only an echo of the heat from before. Still looking down, he carefully removed his hands to place them on either side of the table at her back.

Hermione panted softly through parted lips, and her heart thudded loudly in her chest as she waited for him to look up. To say something.

When he didn't, Hermione dropped her eyes to her lap, embarrassment now threatening to smother any remaining vestiges of heat. After a pause, gentle fingers came under her chin to lift her face. Malfoy's eyes lingered a moment on her mouth before, with seemingly great effort, he wrenched his gaze up to meet her own.

She held her breath. Their faces hovered just inches apart; his blonde hair was tousled, his cheeks flushed, and his pupils blown wide, but he seemed reserved, now. Hesitant.

Malfoy straightened, putting more space between them, and his brow furrowed as he looked into her eyes intently. Searching. He blinked once and gave a small nod, then let his hand drop, his thumb grazing lightly across her lower lip as it moved down. At the loss of his touch, the emotions that had been temporarily dulled returned in full force. She swallowed.

"Sorry, I… forgot myself for a moment, there," she said in a tiny voice, still hardly daring to breathe.

Malfoy leaned back and cleared his throat. "I shouldn't have let…" he trailed off, shaking his head slowly, and her heart sank. He watched her face for a moment, then lifted the corner of his mouth in poor imitation of his usual smirk.

"There are worse ways to break a curse, I suppose." He attempted a chuckle that came out as a rough, low-throated laugh. Pink suffused his cheeks once more and he swallowed heavily, staring resolutely at a point just over her shoulder.

Hermione made no reply, still trying to reorient herself as reality started to seep back in.

Putting aside the last few minutes, she frantically tried to piece together everything she could remember happening today. Crouch, delirious and desperate, was out on the grounds somewhere. Theo had taken Viktor to get Dumbledore. Ron was going to look for the Map in Moody's office. Harry was… somewhere with Moody. Moody, who had put her under the Imperius Curse for the better part of two weeks.

She jumped off the bench, suddenly in a fury.

"Moody," she breathed, voice trembling. "How dare he."

Malfoy stood with her. "Are you alright?" he asked quietly.

Hermione looked up at him. "I don't know. This is…" She couldn't find the words.

"Overwhelming, I'm sure," he finished for her, stuffing his hands into his trouser pockets. He seemed to be keeping a careful distance, now.

Hermione started for the door, thinking quickly. "Yes. And we need to go find Ron. Then Dumbledore — he'll still be with Crouch probably. Oh, I hope Ron found the map. We just have to locate Moody. Harry could be anywhere with that monster."

Suddenly unsure, she turned back to Malfoy. "Are you coming?"

Malfoy hesitated a moment, appearing to have an internal debate, then nodded. "Right behind you, Granger."

She smiled gratefully at him. "Thank you. For everything."

He smiled back at her — a genuine smile — and it transformed his pale features like the sun breaking over the horizon.

"Anytime."